Being pulled over by LEO

[et2]

Never have been, and don't plan to be. Very curious as to the actual procedure if it happened. Now I'm sure the officer would come to the side door ( by passenger up front on our DP).

So should I get up and open the door and step out to meet them, or allow the wife to unlock the door. If you allow them to step inside or you open the door to them have you given up your right to being searched as we invited them in? Or let's say they climb the step and sorta put a arm inside on the dash. Just wondering what the legal ramifications would be. Personally our dogs wouldn't take kindly to their entrance.

If anyone has had this happen what has it gone like? I as many others believe in protecting our rights. Just curious if making them stand outside raises flags on their end. I certainly wouldn't invite them to sit in my car if that were the case.

Just pass the info needed out the screen door opening?
Might be a silly post. Just has me wondering what most people would do

[Nuke-E]

I've been stopped once, about 7 years ago, driving my motorhome. It was an interesting experience, so I figured I'd share what happened and how I approached it.

First of all, it was dark, and caught me by surprise--I had no idea why I was being stopped, but had regularly seen cars being searched along that stretch of I-40 (Shelby County, TN).

I had never given much thought to a traffic stop, but as I was stopping, the first thing that popped into my mind was how I absolutely wouldn't want to approach a high RV window if I were a police officer, where there would be no way to see what was going on inside. I had a mid-ship entry door, so his approach from the passenger side wouldn't have been any better.

I had a switch on the dashboard for a side-facing floodlight. I turned that on immediately on getting stopped, and exited the RV calmly. I walked to the rear of my rig, and waited for him to get out of his car.

I was allegedly stopped for going 71 in a 65 zone (just before the speed limit went to 70). I had been having trouble with the speedometer drive gear on my GearVendors overdrive, and knew I couldn't have been going that fast. I also had a laptop on the dashboard with a GPS that had been logging my position and speeds all day--and told the officer as much. It was a relaxed conversation, and he dropped the pretense for the stop and explained that they were looking for drug trafficking. After a few questions about where I was going, and whether anyone else was inside, he asked if he could search the RV. I gave him a few conditions (like being able to watch, to be able to stop the search at any time, and that everything had to be put back as they found it), and thought it would be somewhat amusing given the hidden spaces that would be hard to search. That resulted in a quick end to the stop and I was on my way--without him ever asking for my driver's license or registration, setting foot inside, etc.

Bottom line, I think, is that the approach put him at ease, and things usually turn out better that way. I had no intention of allowing an invasive search, but he didn't have to know that.

[Skid_Row_Joe]

RayChez wrote:
I got stopped by a highway patrol that was following me for about five miles a few years back. I approached a intersection where I was going to make a left turn, I had a green light and committed to make the turn. In the mean time the light turned yellow and then red while I was still making the turn. The highway patrol turned the red light on me because he claimed that my toad did not quit clear the intersection in time when the red light come on.

He approached on the passenger side and knocked on the door. Wife opened the door and I stayed in the drivers seat. Police acted kind of nervous and was talking real fast to where I could not understand half of what he was saying. So I told him to slow down and talk a bit slower so I could understand him. He claimed he was hoping I would clear the intersection, but that I had not and he had to do his job. I told him you can not make a turn with a coach like an automobile because things would be flying off the shelves. He gave me the ticket, cost me $580.00 (red light violation).

Wow! I'd of gone to traffic court on this one. That's a lot of jack to give in on a traffic light that you entered the intersection when the light was yellow. That's the law here, anyway.

[msmith1199]

RayChez wrote:
I got stopped by a highway patrol that was following me for about five miles a few years back. I approached a intersection where I was going to make a left turn, I had a green light and committed to make the turn. In the mean time the light turned yellow and then red while I was still making the turn. The highway patrol turned the red light on me because he claimed that my toad did not quit clear the intersection in time when the red light come on.

He approached on the passenger side and knocked on the door. Wife opened the door and I stayed in the drivers seat. Police acted kind of nervous and was talking real fast to where I could not understand half of what he was saying. So I told him to slow down and talk a bit slower so I could understand him. He claimed he was hoping I would clear the intersection, but that I had not and he had to do his job. I told him you can not make a turn with a coach like an automobile because things would be flying off the shelves. He gave me the ticket, cost me $580.00 (red light violation).

If it happened as you said, that is not illegal. And if it was CHP that stopped you they know this good and well or they never would have graduated from the CHP Academy. I'm betting there is more to the story.

[et2]

I always have my insurance and registration in the little tray right next to me. Drivers license and other document are in my wallet. So it would take about 30 seconds to have it all ready when they arrived.

They probably can't see my hands anyway while approaching. So grabbing that stuff could be pretty easily done. If I have time I'll keep my hands on the wheel with documents on the dash ready to pass thru.

[2oldman]

Ah yes, paperwork, and, my current insurance information on my phone.

[gemert]

RayChez wrote:
I got stopped by a highway patrol that was following me for about five miles a few years back. I approached a intersection where I was going to make a left turn, I had a green light and committed to make the turn. In the mean time the light turned yellow and then red while I was still making the turn. The highway patrol turned the red light on me because he claimed that my toad did not quit clear the intersection in time when the red light come on.

He approached on the passenger side and knocked on the door. Wife opened the door and I stayed in the drivers seat. Police acted kind of nervous and was talking real fast to where I could not understand half of what he was saying. So I told him to slow down and talk a bit slower so I could understand him. He claimed he was hoping I would clear the intersection, but that I had not and he had to do his job. I told him you can not make a turn with a coach like an automobile because things would be flying off the shelves. He gave me the ticket, cost me $580.00 (red light violation).

I was hoping not to chime in anymore but two important things:
1. Yes you should keep your hands in plain sight when the officer approaches. I always advise friends to have all their paperwork handy all the time so they just have to grab it and hand to officer. If the officer is still parking their car and running your tag it may be a minute or two before they walk up. Use that time to gather your paperwork. You look more organized and less nervous that way.

2. The above quote would bother me if the stop was in Florida because I am sure of the law in Fl. It is that if the light is not red when you enter the intersection, or technically "when you break the threshold of the intersection" you have complied with the law. The threshold is normally considered to be the stop bars in each lane. I don't know if that holds true in other states but I have a hard time believing the law requires you to be out of the intersection before the light is red because you might have to stop for other traffic or peds. From your description, I think there was something else going on. Maybe he just wanted to see your coach or you may have irritated him earlier and he was following you waiting for a reason to stop you. I would have gone to Court if possible on that one. Understand you may not have had time to wait though.

I see you are from California, look at this link, it indicates that the driver has to be facing a red light and go through it to be in violation. It even says that they have to be past a "limit line".
http://catraffichelp.com/red-light-tickets

[RayChez]

I got stopped by a highway patrol that was following me for about five miles a few years back. I approached a intersection where I was going to make a left turn, I had a green light and committed to make the turn. In the mean time the light turned yellow and then red while I was still making the turn. The highway patrol turned the red light on me because he claimed that my toad did not quit clear the intersection in time when the red light come on.

He approached on the passenger side and knocked on the door. Wife opened the door and I stayed in the drivers seat. Police acted kind of nervous and was talking real fast to where I could not understand half of what he was saying. So I told him to slow down and talk a bit slower so I could understand him. He claimed he was hoping I would clear the intersection, but that I had not and he had to do his job. I told him you can not make a turn with a coach like an automobile because things would be flying off the shelves. He gave me the ticket, cost me $580.00 (red light violation).

[Skid_Row_Joe]

skrams wrote:
So how are you supposed to keep your empty hands in sight, and yet have all your paperwork ready? Who drives with their paperwork in their hand/lap? Mine's in 2 different places.

:S
You're not.

You're supposed to take instructions from the police officer. Just wait for the officer to address you, then do exactly what you're told to do.

Do not get out of your coach and "sit on the steps,"

That, is not what the officer will tell you to do.

Lastly, do not hide out in your RV. Stay in view of the officer. He will instruct you from there.;)

[msmith1199]

skrams wrote:

Skid Row Joe wrote:
Best advise is to stay IN your rig, and keep your empty hands insight.

J-Rooster wrote:
Leo should approach from curb side of RV for safety reasons and he will pick door or window he feels more comfortable with. You should have your license, vehicle registration, insurance card ready.

So how are you supposed to keep your empty hands in sight, and yet have all your paperwork ready? Who drives with their paperwork in their hand/lap? Mine's in 2 different places.

You got quotes from two different people with different advice. What you should do is just wait in your drivers seat until the officer approaches. My reg and ins are in an overhead compartment and I'm not going to be digging around getting them out while the officer approaches.

[skrams]

Skid Row Joe wrote:
Best advise is to stay IN your rig, and keep your empty hands insight.

J-Rooster wrote:
Leo should approach from curb side of RV for safety reasons and he will pick door or window he feels more comfortable with. You should have your license, vehicle registration, insurance card ready.

So how are you supposed to keep your empty hands in sight, and yet have all your paperwork ready? Who drives with their paperwork in their hand/lap? Mine's in 2 different places.

[2gypsies1]

jsmart wrote:
Grew up in an era where we were taught to respect LEO's, call them "Sir" or "Ma'am". Been pulled over several times in cars, on my motorcycle and once in the MH. Always polite and forthright with the required information. got several tickets in years past (speeding), but recently lost my lead foot. Pulled over in Utah by USP, she came to the passenger door (we were on the freeway) indicating to me with hand signal that I was to meet her at the door, had the paperwork in hand, she informed me that I had a tail light out on my toad, looked over my tow bar hook up with me and told me to have a nice day (she also told me there was a Walmart at the next exit and I could probably find a bulb for the tail light there, thought that was really nice. Pulled over north of Sacramento last year, again on the freeway, CHP came up to the front of the windshield, indicated I should come to the passenger door with my paperwork, which I did, He was very polite, professional, again told me I had a tail light out on the MH. Both times I also was polite and cooperative. Seems like any profession is that way, I'm an old ER nurse, and I can tell you that politeness goes a long way in getting things done.

It's really a no-brainer as to what to do. Some folks seem to make it more of a challenge in everything they do.

[Skid_Row_Joe]

rgatijnet1 wrote:
Those of us that get off of the Interstates and travel a lot of the back roads through the small towns of America have to constantly be aware of changing speed limits that can get us stopped by the police. In Texas alone we have seen the speed drop from 70 to 55 to 30 within a few blocks. Texas now allows 80 MPH speeds on some non-interstate roads.

Correction......Texas allows up to 80 mph on long stretches of Interstate highway, and up to 85 mph on a non-Interstate toll road.

[jsmart]

Grew up in an era where we were taught to respect LEO's, call them "Sir" or "Ma'am". Been pulled over several times in cars, on my motorcycle and once in the MH. Always polite and forthright with the required information. got several tickets in years past (speeding), but recently lost my lead foot. Pulled over in Utah by USP, she came to the passenger door (we were on the freeway) indicating to me with hand signal that I was to meet her at the door, had the paperwork in hand, she informed me that I had a tail light out on my toad, looked over my tow bar hook up with me and told me to have a nice day (she also told me there was a Walmart at the next exit and I could probably find a bulb for the tail light there, thought that was really nice. Pulled over north of Sacramento last year, again on the freeway, CHP came up to the front of the windshield, indicated I should come to the passenger door with my paperwork, which I did, He was very polite, professional, again told me I had a tail light out on the MH. Both times I also was polite and cooperative. Seems like any profession is that way, I'm an old ER nurse, and I can tell you that politeness goes a long way in getting things done.

[down_home]

rgatijnet1 wrote:
Those of us that get off of the Interstates and travel a lot of the back roads through the small towns of America have to constantly be aware of changing speed limits that can get us stopped by the police. In Texas alone we have seen the speed drop from 70 to 55 to 30 within a few blocks. Texas now allows 80 MPH speeds on some non-interstate roads.

In Michigan we've noticed, in small towns. the Local Cops actively looking for any speed over the posted or signs of anything not to their standards.
Kalamazo was a real pain a few years a go. Locals were up in arms.

[rgatijnet1]

Those of us that get off of the Interstates and travel a lot of the back roads through the small towns of America have to constantly be aware of changing speed limits that can get us stopped by the police. In Texas alone we have seen the speed drop from 70 to 55 to 30 within a few blocks. Texas now allows 80 MPH speeds on some non-interstate roads.